Garden Soil Calculator Project Checklist

Introduction

A raised-bed soil project has a natural order: approvals and site checks first, lumber second, soil math third, delivery fourth, filling and planting last. Do it out of order — soil delivered before the frames are built, beds filled before drainage is checked — and you pay in rework. The Garden Soil Calculator covers the math step; this checklist covers everything around it, in sequence.

Print this, work top to bottom, and check each item off. Every step links to the guide that explains it in full.

Phase 1: Plan and Approve

1. Choose bed locations — 6+ hours of sun, near a water source, not blocking drainage swales.
2. Check HOA and local rules — covenants, setbacks, and retaining-wall thresholds for tall beds. See the code compliance guide.
3. Run a percolation test — 12-inch hole, fill twice, time the second drain; over ~4 hours means poor drainage.
4. Decide DIY or pro — slopes, tall beds, and 3+ tons of soil may justify a contractor. See DIY vs. pro.

Phase 2: Build the Frames

1. Choose lumber — untreated cedar/redwood, composite, or modern ACQ/CA-treated; avoid creosote and old CCA near edibles.
2. Build to depth — 8–12 in (20–30 cm) standard; 12+ in (30 cm) for root crops or poor subsoil.
3. Level the frames — check with a level in both directions before any soil goes in.

Phase 3: Calculate and Order

1. Measure inside dimensions — length, width, and depth inside the frame. See the estimating guide for irregular shapes.
2. Calculate volume — L × W × D in consistent units; the calculator gives ft³, yd³, m³, bags, and weight. Method in the formula guide.
3. Add 10–15% for settling — then round up to the supplier’s increment or whole bags.
4. Choose bulk vs. bagged — bulk wins at ~1+ yd³ once delivery is factored; price both per cubic yard. See the cost guide.
5. Choose the blend — garden soil/raised bed mix or 50/50 topsoil-compost; never 100% compost or subsoil. See the material guide.
6. Schedule delivery — dry day, tarped drop spot, one trip for all beds.

Phase 4: Fill and Plant

1. Fill in 4–6 in lifts, watering each layer lightly to pre-settle.
2. Mound 1–2 in above the frame, crowned slightly in the middle.
3. Mulch 2–3 in from day one to protect the surface.
4. Plant, water deeply, and plan a fall compost top-dress of 2–3 in to replace settled volume.

Phase 5: First-Season Maintenance

1. Water deeply but infrequently — encourage roots downward; the mulch layer keeps the surface from crusting.
2. Watch the settle line — expect the surface to drop 1–3 inches over the first months; this is normal, not failure.
3. Top-dress with compost in fall — 2–3 inches worked into the top few inches replaces settled volume and feeds the soil.
4. Log everything — supplier, blend, volumes, amendments, and performance per bed; next year’s order becomes trivial.

The maintenance phase is where beds compound in value: a bed that gets its annual compost top-dress produces better in year three than year one, while a neglected bed declines. The pro tips guide turns this phase into a yearly routine you can run on autopilot.

Pre-Order Sanity Checks

Before you confirm any order, run these five checks — they catch 90% of expensive errors:

1. Are all three dimensions in the same unit? (The most common arithmetic error is mixed units.)
2. Did you measure inside the frame, not outside?
3. Is the 10–15% settling allowance included in the order quantity?
4. Did you round up to the supplier’s increment or whole bags — never down?
5. Are the frames built, leveled, and ready before the truck arrives?

Five yeses and you can order with confidence. Any no sends you back to the relevant phase above — which is exactly what the checklist is for.

Quick-Reference Numbers

Reference	Value
4×8 bed, 12 in deep	32 ft³ = 1.19 yd³ = 0.91 m³; 22 bags; ~1.5 tons
4×8 bed, 8 in deep	21.3 ft³ = 0.79 yd³ = 0.60 m³; 15 bags; ~1 ton
Bags per cubic yard (1.5 ft³ bags)	18
Settling allowance	+10–15%
Moist soil weight	75–100 lb/ft³ (1.0–1.35 tons/yd³)

Tools and Supplies to Have on Hand

Gather these before delivery day so the project never stalls waiting for a hardware run:

• Tape measure, level, and carpenter’s square for the frames
• Drill/driver, exterior screws, and a saw (or pre-cut lumber)
• Wheelbarrow and square-point shovel for moving soil — a garden fork for amending
• Tarp for the delivery pile and for mixing blends
• Landscape fabric or liner material if you are lining bed walls
• Mulch and compost for finishing, ordered with the soil to save a trip

Most of this is standard homeowner kit; the only project-specific purchases are the soil itself and possibly the liner. Buying the mulch and compost in the same order as the soil — one delivery, one fee — is the single easiest saving in the project, and the cost guide shows why consolidated ordering wins every time.

Work the phases in order, trust the allowances, and resist the urge to skip steps when the weekend weather looks perfect — the checklist exists precisely so good weather does not tempt you into a rushed, expensive order.

Related Guides

• Complete Guide — the full background behind this checklist.
• Estimating Guide — measuring and totaling made exact.
• Common Mistakes — what happens when steps get skipped.
• Pro Tips — techniques that make each phase easier.
• FAQ — quick answers while you work.

Get Your Number

Work the checklist, then get your exact order volume from the Garden Soil Calculator — add settling, round up, and schedule one delivery.

Disclaimer: Calculator results are planning estimates based on the dimensions you enter. Actual material requirements vary with product density, moisture content, and settling. Verify quantities with your supplier and consult a licensed professional for drainage or code-related decisions.